Vol. 475 No. 6
130 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice the current level of computerisation in the Garda Síochána; the identified computer requirements in this regard; the progress, if any, which will be made in 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5528/97]
An Garda Síochána have a mainframe computer at Garda headquarters with access provided to all stations in the Dublin metropolitan area, all divisional headquarters and stations serving major population areas elsewhere. The mainframe computer provides instant access to records on vehicles, crimes, criminal records, missing persons, fines on the spot and firearms. In addition, the force is also served by stand-alone systems supporting personnel, store accounting, fleet maintenance, exhibit tracking, false alarms and a computerised command and control communication system which serves the Dublin metropolitan area. Last year I formally inaugerated a state-of-the-art automatic fingerprint identification system at the fingerprint bureau in Garda headquarters, at a cost of £1.8 million. The force also has approximately 700 personal computers which are used for more general office purposes.
In 1993, the Commissioner, in the context of the Garda Síochána corporate strategy, commissioned a strategic information technology plan which identified the future information technology needs of an Garda Síochána. The plan highlighted the need for a major investment in new systems and networks and recommended the replacement of the existing hardware and networks which were approaching the end of their lifecycle. Following Government approval, a joint Garda and Consultancy team produced a conceptual design plan which identified specific system areas required by the force and specified the necessary hardware, software, infrastructure and resource requirements.
